Blacksburg Transit (BT), through the Commonwealth of Virginia, has exercised an option with New Flyer of America Inc. for four Xcelsior® clean diesel, 60-foot heavy-duty transit buses. The order is part of a state schedule and options are not recorded in the backlog.
“We are proud to once again provide the buses that BT needs to move both citizens, and students at Virginia Tech, throughout the community,” said Wayne Joseph, president, New Flyer of America. “As a hub for innovation, Virginia Tech strongly aligns with New Flyer’s vision to advance bus technology in America. The new Xcelsior buses for BT are fully accessible and feature American innovation in motion, to better serve passengers in Southwest Virginia.”
The purchase, which executes on planned fleet expansion and replacement initiatives, was supported by a combination of state and federal funding. Virginia’s Smart Scale program provided a significant portion of funding for this project. Established by the 2014 General Assembly, Smart Scale scores transportation projects based on an objective, outcome-based process that is transparent to the public and allows decision makers to be held accountable to taxpayers. Once projects are scored and prioritized, the Commonwealth Transportation Board has the best information possible to select the right projects for funding.
BT provides public transportation for Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, Christiansburg, and portions of Montgomery County. Over 3.7 million customers use BT’s services each year, making it the fifth highest ridership bus system in the Commonwealth of Virginia. There are 68 vehicles in the fleet, varying in size from vans to 60-foot long articulated transit buses.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County on February 2.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.
CEO Nat Ford’s address offered a look at highlights from 2025, with a focus on the future and the innovative ways the JTA is shaping mobility in Northeast Florida.
